Apparatus for promoting flow of oil and gas in wells.



PATENTED JUNE 14, 1904. F. GARDNER. APPARATUS FOR PROMOTING PLOW OF OIL AND GAS IN WELLS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented June 14, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FULTON GARDNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JULIA B. FOLLETTE, OF CHICAGO; ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR PROMOTING FLOW OF OIL AND GAS IN WELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 762,628, dated June 14, 1904.

Application filed January 25, 1904. Serial No. 190,596. (No model.)

To a whom it may concern,-

Be it known that I, FULTON GARDNER, a resident of Chicago,- in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Promoting Flow of Oil and Gas in ells, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for promoting flow of oil and gas in wells, and refers more specifically to an apparatus for locally heating the walls of the oil or gas bearing strata of the well electrically.

Among the salient objects of the present invention are to provide an apparatus by means of Which a relatively extended section of the well may be simultaneously heated to the necessary degree; to provide in such an apparatus a series of separated heating elements electrically connected in multiple, so that one source of current-supply and one pair of main conductors will be effective to accomplish the heating; to provide an apparatus in Which the electrically-heated body is, asto its exterior, exposed to access of oil and moisture. so that such oil and moisture Will be gasified or vaporized and aid in effecting a rapid heating and melting of those substances which obstruct the flow of the well; to provide in an apparatus of the character referred to means for efiieiently supporting the heating units at suitable intervals apart, whereby they may be properlymanipulated and supported in the well, such supports serving at the same time as main conductors for the electric current; to provide a construction which may be economically and practically produced, and in general to provide a simple, durable, and effective apparatus for the purpose described.

To the above ends the invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and the invention Will bereadily understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which A V Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a well, showing a couple of heating units constructed in accordance with my invention arranged therein and their connecand looking downwardly, and Fig.

tions. Fig. 2 is an axial section of one of the heating units on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 at is a frag-- mentary view in side elevation of a slightlymoditicd construction.

In the drawings, Fig. 1, 1 1 designate two units or heating-cartridges of similar construction arranged Within the productive strata of a well, and 2 3 respectively designate the two main conductors and supporting-rods, whereby the cartridges are connected.

Inasmuch as the cartridges are of similar construction one only will be described in detail.

Referring to Fig. 2, 4c designates asa whole a tubular shell of porous refractory material capable of withstanding a high degree of heat. The tnbularshell 1 is provided at each end with a closure, as 5 6, these closures being eonveniently made in the form of stoppers constructed to fit Within the ends of the shell and suitably secured therein. Immediately inside of each end closure is arranged a plate of conducting material, as 7 and 8, these two plates constituting two electrodes and being severally connected with conductors9 and 10, which enter through suitable apertures 11 in the end walls. The interior of the cartridge between the electrode is compactly filled with a carbonaceous compound, snehas graphite, formed into a homogeneous mass by means of any suitable binding material.

The conductors 2 and 3 are preferably ar ranged to extend lengthwise along the exterior of the cartridge at diametrically opposite points, as indicated in. Figs. 2 and 3, and in order that the cartridge may be made of a diameter to closely fit the interior of the well said conductors are seated in grooves 12, formed in the shell and of a depth approximately equal to the diameter of the conductors. The cartridge may be immovably united with the conductors in any desired manncr as, for example, by cementing the conductors in the grooves 12. The branch conductors 9 and 10 are respectively connected with the main leads 2 and 3, as indicated clearly in the draw ings.

The operation of the apparatus constructed as described is substantially as follows: It be-v ing understood that the upper ends of the conductors 2 and 3 are electrically connected with a suitable source ofv current, usually a dynamo, and the apparatus suspended in the well, so that the cartridges are Within that portion of the well which extends through the bearing strata, the current is turned on and maintained until the cartridges have been brought to a high temperature and thus maintained for a desired length of time. The current flows through all of the cartridges at the same time by reason of the fact that they are connected between the main leads in multiple, so that if a sufficient number of cartridges be provided the entire thickness of the productive strata of the well may be treated at one time. The current passes from one electrode or plate through the body of carbon contained within the cartridge to the other electrode and thence to the return-conductor, thus heating the carbon to an intense temperature. By reason of the porosity of the walls of the cartridge water or oil present in the well will seep into the walls of the cartridge, where it will be vaporized or gasified by the heat and expelled and will permeate adjacent portions of the walls of the Well. These heated vapors or gases, acting in conjunction with the directlyradiated heat from the cartridges, will rapidly melt the paraflin, asphaltum, or other deposits which clog the interstices or bores of the bearing strata, thus promoting the flow of oil or gas, as the case may be, and increasing the productivity of the well. Obviously the cartridges may be raised and lowered, so as to traverse all parts of the walls of the well necessary to be treated, if it be so desired. In order that a greater or less number of cartridges may be coupled together to treat strata of varying thicknesses, I have shown the main leads as provided with couplings or unions, as indicated at 13.

The cartridge-shell may be made of porous character in any of the ways known to those skilled in the art; but if it be desired to make the walls more readily pervious they may be formed with numerous small perforations, as indicated at 14 in the modification shown in Fig. 4:- It will be understood that these perforations may be formed at the time the shell is molded and while the material is in plastic state.

While the herein-described apparatus is a practical and preferred embodiment of my invention, yet it will be understood that the invention may-be otherwise embodied, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the details herein described except to the extent that they are made the subject of specific claims.

I claim as my invention I I 1. In an apparatus of the character ,described, a heating-cartridge comprising an outer shellpervious to liquids, a filling of conducting material of relatively high electrical resistance, and means for passing electric current through said cartridge.

2. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a cartridge having an outer 'shell of refractory material pervious to liquids, a filling of conducting material having a high electrical resistance, and means for passing electric current through said cartridge.

3. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a cartridge having an outer shell of porous, refractory material, a filling of conducting material of high electrical resistance, an electrode within the shell at each end of said filling, a pair of main conductors arranged externally of the cartridge, and electrical connections between said electrodes and the respective main conductors.

4:. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a plurality of heating-cartridges each consisting of an outer shell of refractory material, a filling of conducting material of high electrical resistance, electrodes arranged within said shell at separated points, a pair of main conductors extending to each of said cartridges, and electrical connections between the electrodes of each cartridge and said main leads whereby the series of cartridges are connected in multiple with the main leads.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of heatgenerating units and electrical connections connecting said units in multiple with a suitable source of current-supply- 6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of heatgenerating cartridges spaced apart and supported and connected with each other by means of rigid conductors constituting the two main leads of an electric circuit, and connections extending from each main lead to and through the several cartridges, whereby the latter are connected in multiple circuit.

FULTON GARDNER.

\Vitnesses:

ALBERT H. GRAVES, L. F. MOCREA. 

